Born on March 28, 1969, Bishop Rene Ramirez hails from Gapan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. He entered the Congregation of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus in May 1985. He studied for a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at Adamson University in Manila. On June 26, 1998, he was ordained priest by Most Rev. Rolando Tirona, OCD.
In his initial year of priesthood, he served as a Vocation Director. Then, from 1999 until early 2003, Fr. Rene became an Administrator, Treasurer, and Vice Rector at Rogationist College – Silang. While performing these tasks, he pursued a Master's in Educational Management at De La Salle University in Dasmariñas City. In 2003, he went to Rome, took up Licentiate studies in Spirituality, and earned a Diploma in Social Communications from the Pontifical Gregorian University.
Returning to the Philippines in 2006, he was tasked to direct the Social Communications Center and simultaneously journey with the seminarians as Spiritual Director at the Father Hannibal Formation Center, where he also taught. From 2009 to 2015, he served as the Superior of St. Hannibal Rogate Centre, which included the Communications Office, the Provincial House, and the House for Rogationist Late Vocation Seminarians.
Bishop Rene has made notable contributions to the Congregation, from which we all benefit today. He played a key role in bringing the efforts of the Rogate Center in the Philippines to the digital realm, thus giving birth to the website ‘rcj.ph’. He was also behind the congregation's website, ‘rcj.org,’ and the corresponding email system. The Caffe Sant’Antonio, in its beginnings and the transfer of the Rogate Images to where it is now, was largely formed by his passion and zeal. In the field of music, we hear his composition sung almost every Tuesday, the Hymn to St. Anthony.
Bishop Rene was one of the pioneers, together with Fr. Gerald Binegas, of the Rogationist Mission in the Land Down Under. He became the pastor of Holy Family Parish in October 2015, overseeing the Catholic communities of West Footscray, Maidstone, and Braybrook within the Archdiocese of Melbourne. He played a crucial role in amalgamating the partnered parishes of Maidstone and Braybrook in 2018 and is actively involved in parish renewal through Ron Huntley Leadership Coaching.
The Rogationist presence expanded from Melbourne to the Diocese of Sandhurst in his official assignment as pastor of St. Mel’s Parish in Shepparton South and St. Malachy’s Parish in Nagambie in November 2023. In January 2024, he was tasked by the Bishop of Sandhurst to be the Supervising Priest (Canon 517 §2) in Rushworth, which includes four Mass Centers.
On November 8, 2024, the Holy Father Pope Francis appointed him as one of the New Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne, Australia, and the Titular Bishop of Mauriana. He was consecrated to the Order of Bishops on February 1, 2025, at St. Patrick Cathedral, Melbourne, Australia.
On Apirl 11, 2026, the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV appointed Most Reverend René Ramirez RCJ as the Ninth Bishop of Sandhurst.